How people welcomed Rahul Gandhi's BJY in old Hyderabad

Hyderabad: People stood on rooftops and balconies with all eyes on the Hussaini Alam road junction at Puranapul to check every now and then if the leader has arrived.

The ones who could not make it to the balcony or rather the ones who wanted to see him closer stood on the roads amidst the tightly packed crowd and the police bandobast. The sky was hazy. But even if it rained, people were determined only to return after catching a glimpse of him.

Gnawing, a duty nurse from the nearby Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) in Puranapul said, "Hope he won't go through some other route. These people are keeping on changing. I just came out during my break time to see him."

Police were using a big rope to demarcate the way for Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.

Finally, he came. But for many, without even getting a good glimpse, he walked past them. A group of children from Model Girls High School, Puranapul was standing on the side of the road but were disappointed.

"Rahul Gandhi gaya kya? Humne Nahi dekha (Did he go? We did not see)," a girl from the school said.

Many of the yatris came from different states to take part in the walk. Satyapal Reddy from Uttar Pradesh said he had no allegiance to the party but it was the vision that encouraged him to be a part.

"I am not a party worker or follower. But I felt hopeful about the yatra. If it good does some good, if desh mein hone wale gathnayoon ko sudhar sake (if it can right the wrongs happening in the country), then why not be a part of it?" the 74-year-old man asked.

"I joined on 27 October. If my body permits, I will walk to Kashmir," said Satyapal. "I like the idea of the yatra- Bringing together all the people of the country to the roads."

Another Congress worker from Maharashtra, who was part of the yatra from the beginning, said, "See the rate of unemployment in the country now. I did my Master's degree in Economics. Still, I could not find a proper job. And after Covid-19, the unemployment rate has gone up so badly." He also exuded hope that the yatra would result in some positive change in the country.

Flag hoisting at Charminar

At around 4:30 pm, Gandhi reached Charminar where he hoisted the national flag, which was followed by the singing of the national anthem. Coincidentally, 32 years ago on the same day, 1 December 1990, his father and former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi hoisted the Congress party's flag kickstarting the Sadbhavana yatra from Charminar to maintain the unity and integrity of the country.

Source: Congress Twitter Page

Traffic jams in the city

Meanwhile, due to the closure of several roads along the route of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Charminar to Necklace Road, severe traffic was observed in the city on Saturday evening. People were frustrated by being caught in the traffic for hours.

"Woh aaya hein, to kya, roads sab band kar dethe hein (Rahul Gandhi has come, so what, you close all the roads?)" a frustrated auto driver said.